ABSTRACT
Women leaders experience a wide range of identity-based challenges while pursuing professional advancement and growth. As women, aggressions such as harassment, silencing, and minimizing are common forms of oppressive barriers that hinder career and economic advancement. This case study presents an instance of identity-based aggression while negotiating a contract with a potential corporate client. In addition to the emotional implications this experience presents, the coach is positioned to sort through a set of decisions that require her to consider financial gain/loss, her own levels of physical and psychological safety as it pertains to the pros and cons of taking legal action. Melinda's decision-making process requires an acknowledgment and examination of her own values around justice, safety, peace of mind, self-advocacy, privacy, professionalism, and harassment.
